Slip-cover fastener or stabilizer



Jan. 9, 1951 J. w. sMlTH SLIP COVER FASTENER 0R STABILIZER Filed Aug. 17, 1945 Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oEElcE 2,537,190 l SLIP-COVER. FASTENER R STABILIZER James Walter Smith, Baltimore, Md. Application August 17, 1945, Serial No. 611,615

4 claims. (Cl. 155-182) This invention relates to a slip-cover fastener or stabilizer, and especially to a normally concealed fastener which is easily adjustbale to compenaste for shrinkage or stretching of the material of which slip-covers are made.

Where slip-covers are used on chairs, sofas, etc., the ordinary use of such articles of furniture causes the front part of the canopy of the backrest to gradually become wrinkled while the rear skirt of the canopy is raised and slides over the back-rest; such wrinkling is not only unsightly, but also causes the slip cover to wear and tear more quickly than if the wrinkles were prevented.

Therefore: The main object of this invention is to provide a simple and very eiective means to stabilize the canopy so it cannot thus become wrinkled and prematurely worn or torn.

A further object is to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive and conveniently applied and adjusted device that is normally outfof sight, and which adds only a slight expense to the cost of each of such slip-covers,

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a. left-side elevation of an upholstered seat having a slip-cover thereon, the lower part of the latter and a portion of the seat being broken away and in cross-section; my fastener being shown partly in dotted lines and partly in full lines.

Fig. 2 is a view showing a fragment of the rear skirt as seen from its front or inner side, with the securing or stabilizing device hanging therefrom. Y

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a much enlarged left-side view of one form of anchoring unit, a part broken out, this being only slightly diierent from the form shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a horizonal sectional view taken along the line E-of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modied form of anchoring unit engaged Vwith a, strip or tape of fabric secured in one of its various adjustments by a barb on the anchoring unit.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken thru the center of the anchoring device of Fig. 6.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference numerals refer to similar parts in the several views, the invention is described in detail as follows:

The back-rest of the furniture-unit is indicated at I0, the 'seat-frame at II, andthe upholstering at I2. The slip-cover I3 includes a canopy I4 having a rear skirt I5 secured by stitching I6 to the upper section Il, and to the flange of a bead or piping I8.

The slip-cover-fastener includes an angular piece or duplex unit of fabric I 9 having its upper edge portion secured to the upper part of the skirt I5 and to the upper section Il; and, for sake of economy, its securing means may well constitute or include the same stitching I6 that secures the fabric-units or sections I5, I1 and I8 to one another. The lateral or upright edges of the unit I9 has its margins turned inward and stitched at 2li, so they are reenforced against tearing or undue stretching; and they converge downwardly to a relatively short lower edge to which a fabric tape or strap 2| is secured by any appropriate means, for instance, seams of stitching as at 22.

A barbed anchoring unit 23 has a loop 24 at its upper end, and a barb 25 near its lower end and normally embodded in the under-side of the seat-frame while its loop 24 is engaged with a tied knot 2Ia of the tape 2|. This anchoring unit is only slightly different from the one shown in Fig. 4 where the loop 24a is at right-angles to that of Fig. l; so a broad description of Fig. 4 is also readable on the anchoring unit of Fig. 1, and is as follows: The anchoring device or unit is formed of a length of wire that has a loop (24d in Fig. 4) at the upper end anda loop or annulus 26 substantially at its lower end. The shank 21 is bent at right-angles at 28, and the horizontal part 29 of the shank is under and against the wire-end-portion 30 that terminates in the upwardly tapered sharp-pointed barb 25 which lat' ter is substantially parallel with the main portion of the shank 21.

While this form of anchoring unit, above described, is very convenient and effective, because it can be applied without aid of any tool, by pressure of a thumb for causing the barb to enter the under side of the seat-frame; also because the loop 24 or 24a stands out from the seatframe to permit the tape 2! to be readily adjusted and tied; the invention is not limited to this form; and as an example of another form that may be very effective and at less cost, reference is made to the barbed anchoring unit of Fig. 6 and 7, which latter unit is capable of being cast, molded vor pressed into the shape shown, viz., comprising a relatively thin and wide element having. a"`f`central portion 3| that includes' a barb 32 rigidlyunited therewith and has large l openings 33 at opposite sides of said central portion, these openings extending approximately to the periphery of this unit.

With either form of anchoring unit, adjustments can be made either by properly tying the tape to the upper loop (Figs. 1, 2, 4) or to the peripheral segments of the unit of Figs. 6 and 7;

or by causing the barb 25 or 32 to pierce the tape at different points for diierent adjustments.

Although these different forms of'anchoringdevice have been specically described, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby; for various changes may be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as impliediandclaimed.v

I claim the following as my invention:

1. The combination, with a slip-cover canopy including an upper section, stitching connecting the upper edge of the skirt to the rear edge of the upper section, of a slipcover stabilizer comprising a connector member joinedatfits upper endl by said stitching to the rear edge 'of 'the upper section and extended' downwardly inside the canopy, and means at the lower end of said member adapted foriconnection to a seat frame.

2.-The combination, with Ya slip-cover canopy including anY upperl section,..a1 rear skirt, and stitching connecting thefupper'edge of the skirt te'v the rear edge'ofzthe upper section,l of a slipcover-stabilizerA comprising an elongated flexible member ljoined at .itsupper end bysaid stitching. tortherear edge of the upper section, andmeans at the 'lowerend ofsaid memberfadapted for connection tol a Aseat frame.'

3L'1The` combination, with'a slipecover canopy including auV uppersectio-n, a reary skirt, and stitching :connecting the upper edge of thej skirt toth'e-rear edge ofthe upper section, of a slipcovert stabilizer: comprising av fabric connector member including a wide piece of fabric joined at its upper'` end A to i the :rear edge of the upper section; atapeiconnectedat onezend Ato the lower end of .said .wid'ev piece, ,and Vmeans` at the other endrlof said'. tape'fadapted for connection-to. a sieatafr'ame, alllportionsof saidconnectorA mem.-

ai rear' skirt, andi 4 ber being disposed inside the canopy and proportioned to be concealed by the rear skirt of the canopy.

4. The combination, with a slip-cover canopy including an upper section, a rear skirt, and a line of stitching connecting the upper edge of the skirt to the rear edge of the upper section, of a slip cover stabilizer comprising a connector member that includes an approximately triangular piece ofmaterial joined along 'one'end' by said line of stitching to the rear edge of the upper section, an elongated tape joined at one end to the other end of said triangular piece, and means at the other end ofthe tape adapted 4for connection to a seat frame, all portions of said connecte-r member being disposed inside the canopy and .concealedibythe rear skirt thereof.

JAMES WALTER SMITH.

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